Bruce Lee exhibition hits Hong Kong

By Hiufu Wong, CNN

Updated 1935 GMT (0235 HKT) July 3, 2013

Bruce Lee exhibition in Hong Kong10 photos

Bruce Lee and his family – A five-year Bruce Lee exhibition will open in Hong Kong's Heritage Museum on July 20, 2013, to commemorate 40 years since his death. More than 600 items linked to Lee will be featured, including photos such as this one. Lee met his wife, Linda Emery, at the University of Washington in 1963 and the two were married the next year. They had two children, Brandon Lee and Shannon Lee.

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Bruce Lee exhibition in Hong Kong10 photos

Lee's childhood – Born Lee Jun-fan in San Francisco in 1940, Lee moved to Hong Kong when he was an infant and remained there until his late teens. This is a replica of Lee's application form for an American Citizen's Return Certificate, which would allow him to return to the country of his birth.

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Bruce Lee exhibition in Hong Kong10 photos

Lee's notebook: 'Cha Cha Fancy Steps' – Lee may be best known for his kung fu, but he was also a passionate cha cha dancer. He won the Hong Kong Cha Cha Championship in 1958. He kept a notebook in which he recorded 108 different cha cha steps.

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Bruce Lee exhibition in Hong Kong10 photos

'Walking Along Lake Wash,' by Bruce Lee – Lee also wrote poems, some of which are featured in the exhibition.

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Bruce Lee exhibition in Hong Kong10 photos

Starring as 'The Kid,' 1950 – Having a father in the entertainment business, Lee started in the film industry when he was still a baby. By the age of 18 he'd starred in 20 films. This poster is from the 1950 Hong Kong film "The Kid" (or "My Son A-Chang") in which Lee had his first leading role.

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Bruce Lee exhibition in Hong Kong10 photos

First U.S. magazine cover – A 1966 TV Guide was Lee's first cover appearance on an American magazine. Here he represents Kato in U.S. TV series "The Green Hornet."

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Bruce Lee exhibition in Hong Kong10 photos

'The Way of the Dragon,' 1972 – After the record-breaking success of "The Big Boss" and "Fists of Fury," Lee founded his production company Concord Productions and produced "The Way of the Dragon." He wrote, produced and directed the film, which featured Chuck Norris and broke box office records in Hong Kong again.

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Bruce Lee exhibition in Hong Kong10 photos

'Enter the Dragon"\' fight scene – Conceptual drawings by Lee for the fight scenes from "Enter the Dragon," featuring the late action star Jim Kelly. The film was also Lee's last production. He died days before the film's release.

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Bruce Lee exhibition in Hong Kong10 photos

The yellow tracksuit – As famous as its wearer, the iconic yellow tracksuit Lee wore in "Game of Death" has become a symbol of the kung fu master.

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Bruce Lee exhibition in Hong Kong10 photos

Lee's nunchaku – Nunchaku, or chain sticks, were popularized by Lee in several films.

Story highlights

Lee's famous yellow tracksuits, film set recreations and personal notebooks will be featured

A kung fu legend, a cha cha champion, a record-breaking filmmaker and a poet.

Not one of the world's most random dinner party assemblies, but a single man who became an icon.

Bruce Lee was all of those things and a new exhibition in Hong Kong, where Lee spent his childhood and became a martial arts film star, is being launched to celebrate the man and commemorate the 40th anniversary of his death.

"Bruce Lee: Kung Fu. Art. Life" will open in the Hong Kong Heritage Museum on July 20, exactly 40 years after his death. It will run for five years.

The exhibition gathers more than 600 items related to Lee from collectors and various institutions, including more than 400 from the Bruce Lee Foundation -- the largest number of artifacts the foundation has ever lent out.

Bruce Lee in "The Way of the Dragon," with Chuck Norris.

Among the exhibits are his iconic yellow tracksuit, footage from Lee's eight classic films (including "The Big Boss," "Fists of Fury," "The Way of the Dragon," "Enter the Dragon" and "Game of Death"), the first American magazine cover featuring Lee and the notebook he kept featuring 108 different cha cha dance steps.

Lee won Hong Kong's Cha Cha Championship in 1958.

The exhibition will recreate scenes from Lee's movies, his gym and his study, and will also house a special collector series showcasing various items from around the world.

The first collection features more than 100 items from U.S. collector Perry Lee, related to the TV series "The Green Hornet," in which Lee starred as Kato.

Silver Cheung, a local film art director, will be the art director for the exhibition.

The Federation of Hong Kong Filmmakers has produced a 75-minute documentary, "The Brilliant Life of Bruce Lee," which will be screened in the museum.

Sculptor Chu Tat-shing has created a new 3.5-meter side-kicking statue of Lee and animation artist Shannon Ma will present a 3D hologram animation of Lee's nunchaku moves and kicks.